Diagnostic
Symptom Map
Translate felt founder pain into likely capability gaps so coaching focuses on root causes, not surface noise.
Purpose
Start in the founder's language, then map symptoms to capabilities and choose one or two capabilities to investigate deeply.
When to use it
Use at the start of a coaching relationship, during quarterly planning, or when a recurring complaint keeps returning.
How it works
Capture symptom in plain words
Use the founder's sentence exactly as stated.
Map to likely capabilities
Generate 2-4 plausible capability links across Company, Founder and Human layers.
Challenge first diagnosis
Test whether the loudest symptom is a downstream effect.
Select priority focus
Choose one or two capabilities for this quarter's training focus.
Example mappings
| Symptom | Likely capability links |
|---|---|
| My team keeps dropping things. | Make Ownership Stick / Install the Operating Rhythm / Give Feedback & Hold the Standard |
| I'm still in every decision. | Make Ownership Stick / Take Command of My Role / Make the Right Calls |
| Everything waits on me. | Take Command of My Role / Build Leaders, Not Dependencies |
| Things are tense with my cofounder. | Build Incredible Relationships / Navigate Conflict & Create Psychological Safety |
| We're busy but not moving. | Found the Cult / Chart the Path |
| I delegate and it comes back worse. | Build Leaders, Not Dependencies / Know & Use the Right Leadership Hat |
| I need to raise and we're not ready. | Find New Capital / Chart the Path |
| I'm exhausted. | Manage My Energy System / Build Resilience & Recovery |
| I've lost sight of why I'm doing this. | Build a Life Worth Scaling For |
Coaching questions
- What is the symptom you can name?
- How long has this been happening?
- What does this usually trigger in you?
- Is this the real problem, or a downstream effect?
- Which capability, if improved, would make this symptom reduce naturally?
- What keeps repeating?
Output / artefact
- Short diagnosis linking symptom to capabilities
- Recommended capability focus for the quarter
Tags
| Layer | Moment | Type | Format | Depth | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company / Founder / Human | Diagnose | Diagnostic / Framework | 1:1 / Team | Surface / Operating | Quarterly / As needed |
Related capabilities
Work with Ben
Want help installing this?
Outstride OS is the system behind Ben's founder coaching — pre-seed to Series C. If this page names something you are living right now, start a conversation.